What is Qì-Gong
Qì (energy) -Gong (work) is a very ancient science (circa 4000 thousand years) of cultivating better connection with qì. It has been developed thanks to extremely persevering practitioners in their inner search, creating practical exercises to broaden our consciousness.
In his book "The Root of Chinese Chi Kung" Qi-Gong scholar Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming defines Qi-Gong as: "any training or study dealing with qi which takes a long time and effort". It is made up of simple movement and meditation exercises that regulate the body, mind and spirit. The art has its roots at Buddhist and Taoist philosophy and Traditional Chinese Medicine. In Qi-Gong each movement aims at opening and regulating different energy meridians in our body, hence also regulating internal organs.
As our consciousness has its axis in our physical body, qì-gong begins with exercises to develop awareness of human-qì. That is, the qì that surrounds the interior and around our body. Once that consciousness is established, qì-gong goes deeper to feel the universal qì-gong. The qì that surrounds everything.
Qì-Gong is a practice that nurtures the body, heart and spirit. It works like water that opens streams and rivers. That is why you have to dedicate time and put passion into it. As a result, qì-gong changes the practitioner's perception of reality, starting with the physical, becoming energetic and opening up towards phenomenological.
If the practitioner puts awareness (mindfulness) in their daily life and accepts qì-gong as a lifestyle, the results will appear more easily.
In fact, the goal of qì-gong is to live life doing the practice.
Qì-Gong helps us to correct our external and internal body posture, thus facilitating optimal flow of qì in the body. We also want the concept of qì to be learned by the physical body and not only as an intellectual concept. Later in the course we will also learn to lead the qì within the body using the mind.
This practice also teaches us to be kind to our body. This means doing happy movements from warm-up to Qì-Gong exercises. Making happy movements means doing them without going to the extreme, without pain and without tension.
In Qì-Gong we talk about the rule of moderation, which means not going up to 100% with movements and stretches. When we do a stretch going towards tension and stretching the body to the maximum it creates a subconscious tension and we cannot open the tissues efficiently. If we use the attitude of calm and relaxation - the two essential ingredients for optimal flow of Qì - we may be surprised to see how agile our body is.
External and Internal Qi-Gong
Two different and complementary approaches to Qi-Gong are external (Wai Dan Qi-Gong) and internal (Nei Dan Qi-Gong) schools .
It is important to realize that both Wai-Gong and Nei-Gong aim at NeiDan, that is creating the elixir within the human body. (Dan: Elixir of Immortality)
Wai Dan Qi-Gong should not be confused with WaiDan, the latter denoting the art of Chinese alchemy of combining substances to create elixirs. (that is to say Wai Dan Qi-Gong and WaiDan are different terms)
NeiDan, aims at creating the elixir within the human body, and borrows its vocabulary from WaiDan.
It is also worthwhile to mention that Wai Dan Qi-Gong and Nei Dan Qi-Gong methods are complementary and a healthy practice will involve aspects of both.
Classification of Qi-Gong Styles
Major Qi-Gong traditions can be classified as:
- Medical (for healing): focus is on having a healthy strong body and mind
- Martial (for fighting): in order to increase fighting stamina and to recover immediately from injuries (also walking on walls and throwing fireballs etc.)
- Scholar (for maintaining health): these are scientist who investigate the human Qi.
- Spiritual (for enlightenment): highest form of Qi-Gong practiced for Buddhahood. This tradition has variations among Buddhists, Tibetans and Taoist all seeking enlightments but the latter also seeking longevity.
(read more on Qi-Gong styles)
Although their aims seem different at their core they all aim at regulation and harmonious flow of "Qi" within and outside the human body.
Our sessions aim at health preservation and happiness and we choose the best exercises that fit this from the sets we practice.